Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Five years of Exceptional Entertaining and great chefs
Larry Bly
Larry Bly runs an ad agency and does freelance writing in the Roanoke area.
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Five years ago when Cynthia Gardner moved Twist & Turns from across Campbell Avenue in downwotn Roanoke into the historic Shenandoah Hotel Building, she found herself with a state-of-the-art kitchen. Various suppliers wanted to showcase their wares. The only problem is that she doesn't sell appliances or kitchenware. She puzzled over what to do with this lovely kitchen. Maybe a TV show could be done there. She negotiated with a local station, only to have the plans scrapped when the host decided not to do it.
And there the story might have ended but for the tenacious nature of Cynthia, who called me and insisted on a meeting. I was plenty busy with other projects and had little inclination, but agreed to meet anyway. I arrived at the Hotel Roanoke soaking wet from a rain storm and not in the best of moods.
Long story short, she batted her eyes at me and went about explaining why I was the person to do a show from there. My own long-running, COOKIN CHEAP had just been canceled by the folks at Blue Ridge Public TV. We had several more idea sessions until a concept began to jell.
Whether it was the good company, the ribs, the vodka, or she, Rob Ferguson (my executive producer) or just sitting around with our tootsies in the hot tub after the meal, somehow the idea for EXCEPTIONAL ENTERTAINING was not only hatched, but came to fruition as a private "how to entertain and cook" type of program for Cynthia's paying customers.
After about three years of private presentations, the Cox Communications folks approached Rob, Cynthia and me about doing EXCEPTIONAL ENTERTAINING as a TV show. Before I was even off the air at WBRA, I was back on with this program on Cox Communications Channel 9. It has been and continues to be a fun show that's popular with the viewers. I no longer cook on the air, but enjoy the company of chefs locally and from afar. A recent chef who appeared on the program from Washington, DC, Chef Jacque Herringer, appeared just before Valentines on the Today Show. He's considered one of the foremost chefs in the country. But mostly we're pleased to showcase our local chefs of note.
Roanoke has come a long way in the culinary department since I arrived here in 1971. One can now go to a vast variety of restaurants that serve sophisticated fare once found only in larger markets. Local restaurants regularly boast chefs from the Culinary Institute of America and Johnson and Wales, to name a few.
Featured as well are wines and winemakers from all over Virginia, another area that's truly up-and-coming. Talented floral designers, too.
I have no idea how long the show will run, but I'm fond of telling friends that I've been in TV for nearly 30years. Yet I've never worked for a TV station in my life -- so how lucky am I?
EXCEPTIONAL ENTERTAINING
Cox Communications Channel 9
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 2:30 p.m.
Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 p.m.
